Device for optically scanning and measuring an environment

ABSTRACT

In a device for optically scanning and measuring an environment, where the device is a laser scanner having a light emitter which, by a rotary mirror, emits an emission light beam, with a light receiver which receives a reception light beam, which, after passing the rotary mirror and a receiver lens which has an optical axis, is reflected from an object in the environment of the laser scanner. The laser scanner also includes a color camera which takes colored pictures of the environment of the laser scanner, and a control and evaluation unit which, for a multitude of measuring points, determines the distance to the object and links it with the colored pictures, the color camera being arranged on the optical axis of the receiver lens.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a National Stage Application of PCT Application No. PCT/EP2010/006867, filed on Nov. 11, 2010, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/299,166, filed on Jan. 28, 2010, and of pending German Patent Application No. DE 10 2009 055988.4, filed on Nov. 20, 2009, and which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device for optically scanning and measuring an environment.

By a device such as is known for example from U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2010/0134596, and which comprises a laser scanner, the environment of the laser scanner can be optically scanned and measured. A rotary mirror which rotates and which comprises a polished plate of a metallic rotor, deflects both an emission light beam and a reception light beam. A collimator of a light emitter is seated in the center of a receiver lens. The receiver lens reproduces the reception light beam on a light receiver which is arranged on an optical axis behind the receiver lens. For gaining additional information, a line scan camera, which takes RGB signals, is mounted on the laser scanner, so that the measuring points of the scan can be completed by color information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are based on the object of creating an alternative to the device of the type mentioned hereinabove.

The arrangement of a color camera on the optical axis of the receiver lens, with respect to the rotary mirror on the same side, has the advantage of avoiding parallax errors almost completely, since the light receiver and the color camera take the environment from the same angle of view and with the same side of the rotary mirror. The same mechanism can be used for the rotary mirror. The used side of the rotary mirror is the same as well. The reception light beam being reflected by the rotary mirror is running in parallel to the optical axis of the receiver lens and continuously hitting on the receiver lens. The receiver lens takes the place of the light receiver, so that there is no change of the shadowing effects. To be able to feed the emission light beam again, an emission mirror in front of the color camera is provided, where the emission mirror is reflecting for the emission light beam and is transparent for the color camera.

Due to the fact that a rear mirror, which reflects the reception light beam that has been refracted by the receiver lens towards the receiver lens, is provided on the optical axis behind the receiver lens, the available space can be better utilized. To complete the “folded optics,” a central mirror is provided between the receiver lens and the rear mirror, where the central mirror reflects the reception light beam towards the rear mirror. A suitable form of the mirrors supports focusing, wherein the focusing length with respect to the unfolded optics can still be increased. The central mirror can be used for near-field correction, similar to an additional mask, by reducing the intensity from the near field compared to the far field. Further savings in space result from an arrangement of the light receiver radial to the optical axis of the receiver lens in a cylinder-coordinate system which is defined by the optical axis.

The design of the rotor as a hybrid structure, i.e. as a multi-element structure from different materials, permits a relatively short design which, despite the inclination of the rotary mirror, remains balanced. A combination of a metallic holder, a rotary mirror of coated glass and a plastic housing may be used; however other combinations are possible as well. The holder which is dominating with respect to the mass makes balancing possible, while the housing serves as accidental-contact protection. Glue between the rotor components makes balancing of the different temperature coefficients of expansion possible without impairing the dynamic behavior.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially sectional view of the laser scanner;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the laser scanner; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of the rotor holder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a laser scanner 10 is provided as a device for optically scanning and measuring the environment of the laser scanner 10. The laser scanner 10 has a measuring head 12 and a base 14. The measuring head 12 is mounted on the base 14 as a unit that can be rotated about a vertical axis. The measuring head 12 has a rotary mirror 16, which can be rotated about a horizontal axis. The intersection point of the two rotational axes is designated center C₁₀ of the laser scanner 10.

The measuring head 12 is further provided with a light emitter 17 for emitting an emission light beam 18. The emission light beam 18 may be a laser beam in the range of approximately 340 to 1600 nm wave length; for example 790 nm, 905 nm or less than 400 nm. Also other electro-magnetic waves having, for example, a greater wave length can be used. The emission light beam 18 is amplitude-modulated, for example with a sinusoidal or with a rectangular-waveform modulation signal. The emission light beam 18 is emitted by the light emitter 17 onto the rotary mirror 16, where it is deflected and emitted to the environment. A reception light beam 20 which is reflected in the environment by an object O or scattered otherwise, is captured again by the rotary mirror 16, deflected and directed onto a light receiver 21. The direction of the emission light beam 18 and of the reception light beam 20 results from the angular positions of the rotary mirror 16 and the measuring head 12, which depend on the positions of their corresponding rotary drives which, in turn, are registered by one encoder each.

A control and evaluation unit 22 has a data connection to the light emitter 17 and to the light receiver 21 in the measuring head 12, whereby parts of the unit 22 can be arranged also outside the measuring head 12, for example a computer connected to the base 14. The control and evaluation unit 22 determines, for a multitude of measuring points X, the distance d between the laser scanner 10 and the illuminated point at object O, from the propagation time of the emission light beam 18 and the reception light beam 20. For this purpose, the phase shift between the two light beams 18 and 20 is determined and evaluated.

Scanning takes place along a circle by means of the relatively quick rotation of the mirror 16. By virtue of the relatively slow rotation of the measuring head 12 relative to the base 14, the whole space is scanned step by step, by the circles. The entity of measuring points X of such a measurement is designated as a scan. For such a scan, the center C₁₀ of the laser scanner 10 defines the origin of the local stationary reference system. The base 14 rests in this local stationary reference system.

In addition to the distance d to the center C₁₀ of the laser scanner 10, each measuring point X comprises brightness information which is determined by the control and evaluation unit 22 as well. The brightness value is a gray-tone value which is determined, for example, by integration of the bandpass-filtered and amplified signal of the light receiver 21 over a measuring period which is attributed to the measuring point X. For certain applications it is desirable to have color information in addition to the gray-tone value. The laser scanner 10 is therefore also provided with a color camera 23 which is connected to the control and evaluation unit 22 as well. The color camera 23 may comprise, for example, a CCD camera or a CMOS camera and provides a signal which is three-dimensional in the color space, for example an RGB signal, for a two-dimensional picture in the real space. The control and evaluation unit 22 links the scan, which is three-dimensional in real space, of the laser scanner 10 with the colored pictures of the color camera 23, which are two-dimensional in real space, such process being designated “mapping”. Linking takes place picture by picture for any of the colored pictures which have been taken to give as a final result a color in RGB shares to each of the measuring points X of the scan, i.e. to color the scan.

In the following, the measuring head 12 is described in details.

The reception light beam 20 which is reflected by the rotary mirror 16 hits on a plano-convex, spherical receiver lens 30 which, in embodiments of the present invention, has an approximate semi-spherical shape. The optical axis A of the receiver lens 30 is orientated towards the center C₁₀ of the laser scanner. The convex side of the highly-refractive receiver lens 30 is orientated towards the rotary mirror 16. The color camera 23 is arranged on the same side of the rotary mirror 16 as the receiver lens 30 and on its optical axis A. In embodiments of the present invention, the color camera 23 is arranged on the point of the receiver lens 30 which is closest to the rotary mirror 16. The color camera 23 may be fixed on the untreated surface of the receiver lens 30, for example, be glued on it, or be placed in an appropriate recess of the receiver lens 30.

In front of the color camera 23, i.e. closer to the rotary mirror 16, an emission mirror 32 is arranged, which is dichroic, i.e. in embodiments of the present invention the mirror 32 transmits visible light and reflects red laser light. The emission mirror 32 is consequently transparent for the color camera 23, i.e. the mirror 32 offers a clear view onto the rotary mirror 16. The emission mirror 32 is at an angle with the optical axis A of the receiver lens 30, so that the light emitter 17 can be arranged at the side of the receiver lens 30. The light emitter 17, which comprises a laser diode and a collimator, emits the emission light beam 18 onto the emission mirror 32, from where the emission light beam 18 is then projected onto the rotary mirror 16. For taking the colored pictures, the rotary mirror 16 rotates relatively slowly and step by step. However, for taking the scan, the rotary mirror 16 rotates relatively quickly (e.g., 100 cps) and continuously. The mechanism of the rotary mirror 16 remains the same.

Due to the arrangement of the color camera 23 on the optical axis A of the receiver lens 30, there is virtually no parallax between the scan and the colored pictures. Since, in known laser scanners, the light emitter 17 and its connection is arranged instead of the color camera 23 and its connection, for example a flexible printed circuit board, the shadowing effects of the receiver lens 30, due to the color camera 23 and to the emission mirror 32 do not change or change only insignificantly.

To also register remote measuring points X with a relatively large focal length on the one hand and, on the other hand, to require relatively little space, the laser scanner 10 has “folded optics.” For this purpose, a mask 42 is arranged on the optical axis A behind the receiver lens 30, where the mask is orientated coaxially to the optical axis A. The mask 42 is arranged radially inward (i.e., as referred to the optical axis A) and has a relatively large free area to let the reception light beam 20, which is reflected by the remote objects O, pass unimpeded, while the mask 42, arranged radially outward, has relatively smaller shaded regions to reduce intensity of the reception light beam 20 which is reflected by nearby objects O, so that comparable intensities are available.

A rear mirror 43 is arranged on the optical axis A behind the mask 42, where the mirror is plane and perpendicular to the optical axis A. The rear mirror 43 reflects the reception light beam 20 which is refracted by the receiver lens 30 and which hits on the central mirror 44. The central mirror 44 is arranged in the center of the mask 42 on the optical axis A, which is shadowed by the color camera 23 and the emission mirror 32. The central mirror 44 is an aspherical mirror which acts as both a negative lens, i.e. increases the focal length, and as a near-field-correction lens, i.e. shifts the focus of the reception light beam 20 which is reflected by the nearby objects O. Additionally, a reflection is provided only by such part of the reception light beam 20, which passes the mask 42 which is arranged on the central mirror 44. The central mirror 44 reflects the reception light beam 20 which hits through a central orifice at the rear of the rear mirror 43.

The light receiver 21, which comprises an entrance diaphragm, a collimator with a filter, a collecting lens and a detector, is arranged at the rear of the rear mirror 43. To save space, a reception mirror 45 may be provided, which deflects the reception light beam 20 by 90°, so that the light receiver 21 can be arranged radial to the optical axis A. With the folded optics, the focal length can be approximately doubled with respect to known laser scanners.

Referring also to FIG. 3, the rotary mirror 16 as a two-dimensional structure is part of a rotor 61 which can be turned as a three-dimensional structure by the corresponding rotary drive, and the angle position of the drive is measured by the assigned encoder. To save space also with respect to the rotary mirror 16 due to a relatively short design of the rotor 61 and to keep the rotor 61 balanced, the rotor 61 is designed as hybrid structure, comprising a holder 63, the rotary mirror 16 which is mounted at the holder 63 and a housing 65 made of plastic material, where the housing additionally holds the rotary mirror 16.

The metallic holder 63 has a cylindrical basic shape with a 45° surface and various recesses. Portions of material, for example blades, shoulders and projections, each of which serves for balancing the rotor 61, remain between theses recesses. A central bore serves for mounting the motor shaft of the assigned rotary drive. The rotary mirror 16 is made of glass, which is coated and reflects within the relevant wave-length range. The rotary mirror 16 is fixed at the 45° surface of the holder 63 by glue, for which purpose special attachment surfaces 63 b are provided at the holder 63.

The housing 65 made of plastic material has the shape of a hollow cylinder which has been cut below 45° and encloses at least the holder 63. The housing 65 can be glued to the rotary mirror 16 or be fixed otherwise. The housing 65 can clasp the rotary mirror 16 at its periphery, for example in a form-locking manner, if necessary with the interposition of a rubber sealing or the like. The housing 65 can also be glued to the holder 63 or be otherwise fixed to the holder 63 directly, or, by the mounting of the rotor 61, the housing 65 can be connected to the holder 63, for example screwed to it, by an end plate 67. The glue used on the one hand offsets the different temperature coefficients of expansion of the materials used and, on the other hand, leaves the dynamic behavior unaffected, for example shows an elasticity which is not relatively too large, to avoid speed-dependent unbalances.

The rotor 61 rotates about the optical axis A. The rotary mirror 16 covers the holder 63 on one of its faces (namely on the 45° surface). The housing 65 covers the holder 63 radially outside with respect to the optical axis A. Thus, sharp edges of the holders 63 are covered to prevent injuries. The holder 63 is balancing the rotor 61. Instead of metal, the holder 63 may be made of another relatively heavy material, dominating the moment of inertia. Instead of plastic, the housing 65 may be made of another relatively light material, having few influences on the moment of inertia. Instead of coated glass, the rotary mirror 16 may be reflective (and transparent) otherwise. Designed as a hybrid structure, the rotary mirror 16, the holder 63, and the housing 65 are separately formed parts fixed together. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A device for optically scanning and measuring an environment, comprising: a laser scanner having a light emitter that emits an emission light beam, the laser scanner also having a rotary mirror, the laser scanner further having a light receiver that receives a reception light beam, where the emission light beam is reflected by the rotary mirror to an object in the environment, where a portion of the emission light beam is reflected by the object to produce the reception light beam, and where the reception light beam is reflected by the rotary mirror and passes through a receiver lens which has an optical axis; and the laser scanner also comprises a color camera that takes colored pictures of the environment of the laser scanner, and a control and evaluation unit which, for a multitude of measuring points, determines a distance to the object and links the distance with the colored pictures, wherein the color camera is arranged on the optical axis of the receiver lens; wherein the rotary mirror rotates continuously for capturing the reception light beam, and wherein the rotary mirror rotates step by step when the color camera is taking the colored pictures.
 2. A laser scanner for optically scanning and measuring an environment, the laser scanner comprising: a light emitter that emits an emission light beam along a first axis; a rotary mirror arranged to rotate about the first axis and a second axis, the first axis and the second axis intersecting at a center of the rotary mirror, the rotary mirror configured to reflect the emission light beam in a direction orthogonal to the first axis to an object in the environment, wherein a part of the emission light beam is reflected by the object to produce a reception light beam, the reception light beam being reflected along the first axis by the rotary mirror as a received light; a receiver lens having an optical axis coaxial with the first axis, the receiver lens configured to send a first portion of the received light to a light receiver; a color camera arranged on the first axis and configured to receive a second portion of the received light, the color camera further configured to provide colored pictures of the environment; and a control and evaluation unit configured to determine a distance for each of a multitude of measuring points and mapping the distances to the colored pictures, the distances based at least in part on a speed of light of the emission light beam and the reception light beam.
 3. The laser scanner of claim 2, wherein the color camera is affixed to a surface of the receiver lens or arranged in a recess of the receiver lens.
 4. The laser scanner of claim 2, wherein the receiver lens comprises a plano-convex spherical lens, wherein a convex side of the spherical lens is orientated towards the rotary mirror.
 5. The laser scanner of claim 2, wherein an emission mirror is arranged between the color camera and the rotary mirror, wherein the emission mirror is at an angle with respect to the optical axis.
 6. The laser scanner of claim 5, wherein the emission mirror is reflecting for the emission light beam and transparent for the color camera.
 7. The laser scanner of claim 5, wherein the light emitter emits the emission light beam onto the emission mirror.
 8. The laser scanner of claim 2, wherein the light emitter is arranged at the side of the receiver lens.
 9. The laser scanner of claim 2, further comprising a measuring head that rotates about the second axis and bears the light emitter, the receiver lens, the color camera, the light receiver and the rotary mirror.
 10. The laser scanner of claim 2 wherein the rotary mirror rotates continuously for capturing the reception light beam and wherein the rotary mirror rotates step by step when the color camera is taking the colored pictures. 